Direction Map

Qian -- The Sky. Metal, light, reflexion. Western directions. Medical aspect: Lungs, large intestines, skin. Hot spices (yes, white; they do not belong to the red group!) like ginger and pepper. Alcohol. Space, motion, aviation, technics.

The central sqare contains all the elements as a kind of situation map. Each of the patches points to the related square. So the center is a kind of map for the whole panel. And what is in the middle of the map? Another nine-patch aiming into infinite microcosm? No, just five colors in dynamic motion, as the elements are in permanent exchange.
  

 

7 of 8 Guas

Some more informations about the Ba-Gua system of ancient Chinese cosmology -- and progress of my sewing class. Things that you, my quilting friends in the anglo-american world, have learnt at 6.

I promised to tell you more about the Ba Gua. There are different systems. I do not always mention a direction because they are indicated differently, depending on the view (feng shui, medical system etc.)
This Gua is "the mountain", Gen. Season: Fall.  It is part of the earth element. There are 5 elements in Chinese cosmology. How can they make 8 Guas of 5 elements? 3 elements are doubled, earth, wood, metal. Each is represented by a yin aspect (cool, substance, liquid, dark) and a yang aspect (hot, energy, firm, light). So, obviously there can be only one water -- yin -- and one fire -- yang. The yang aspect of earth is Gen, mountain. Don't ask me why I chose egyptian symbols for the surrounding, maybe because ducks are seen as an earth animal in diet, maybe just because of the gold.

Thunder. Dark green, turquoise. Sudden, frightening events, nervosity. Electricity. Early spring. The clouds in the middle add a component of water. The violet corners are to indicate the light of distant thunderstorms on a night sky. On a medical level, it is liver.

Earth. Yellow. Center, quietude, balance, harmony. Pastel colors. Sweet taste.  All times of moderate temperatures. Stomach, pancreas. Enjoying.

Wind. Sour taste, fresh growth, spring. Liver and gall bladder. Oxygene which I symbolized by the squares with small particles, green meadows, east. Optimism, expanding activities, muscles.

 Dui, the lake. I did this a second time because the first one was surrounded with white triangles, and as I told you, I found that the overall look was less attractive. This is minor metal, reflexion of light, an aspect of space -- Qian, sky, is the large aspect, dui is the smaller space. Metal, spices like mint, cool and sharp

Water. Also this one is a new version because I started with a batting which is too stiff to go with the rest. Kan, water, is black and called "danger", symbolized by the aggressive fish. I used some "wood" symbols, too, like the turquoise bits, because water nourishes wood.  Water rules over kidneys and bladder, the disturbance causes fear.
So what is still missing is Qian, the sky and a central panel. Will probably surprise me as much as you.

Dui, Serenity

Dui, serenity, southeast, white and grey, metal, reflecting surfaces. The lake. Water is referred to in two of the chapters. If you look at it from a pier or from a boat, it looks black. But if you see the surface in a landscape, it shines and reflects. Plants and trees appear as silhouettes, insects dance as black dots over it. Also facades with many windows have this reflecting surface and thus belonge to the same symbol group.  And this is the plan. The colors seem to be chosen roughly, but I cannot change the plan, it is part of Chinese medicine and oracles. Just the idea about "all" is my own.

Easy to see which Gua it is this time

Of course you guessed that this depicts fire. Sparks and sheaves brushing upward, spiral movement. I love fire. I wish we had a fireplace. -- In TCM it is associated with bitter taste, its color can also be black or deep red. The element embraces heart, circulation and the body warming system. It stands for enthusiasm and -- if overdone -- madness.

The Ba Gua "Water"

Water on the corners, too, flowing into the nine patch. Little waves and ripples. Water looks black if you look down on it, especially moory water like Loch Ness. This is why black and dark blue are associated with water, "kan", in Chinese mythology. Seen from afar, the water surface reflects the light which will bring us to the Ba Gua chapter "serene", "dui". This is metal element, due to its look like silver. None of these patches in my quilt will be free from the other elements because there is constant exchange between them. Here, added to white for metal, there is yellow for earth, light blue and green for wood, and a little red for fire.

First you create art quilts, then you learn to sew

Wonderful Heike teaches sewing in the same culture center where I showed my paintings,  she saw them and my quilts, and we got connected and started a conversation. I complained about my self-taught, rather poor ability of hand-quilting, and she said something nice about the art qualities of my quilts. So I enrolled for her sewing course to base my work on improved craft knowlege. She asked me whether this style of working might influence the spontaneous and creative side of it, but I don't think I have to worry, I rather see lacking experience as an obstacle to creative work. So I'm happy to learn from Heike. I chose a few fabrics from my favourite stash and decided to do a diagonal nine-patch with triangle corners in the quilt-as-you-go method. This is the start of a quilt I call Ba-Gua, referring to the 8 basic signs of the I-Ging Chinese oracle book. This one is "Water", connected to danger, black color, fish, kidneys, fear and pride.